CIO, Inc. has announced that three of its products — including mobile batteries and a power strip — have been honored in the Product Design category of the Red Dot Design Award 2026, one of the world's top three design awards[1]. The winning lineup comprises the "SMARTCOBY SLIMⅡ Wireless2.0 SS5K," a thin mobile battery built on a semi-solid-state cell; the "SMARTCOBY ULTRA SLIM 3K," an ultra-thin model just 4.98 mm thick; and the "CIO Mate TAP 002," a power strip with a built-in cord reel[1]. Three products with very different angles — safety, thinness and cable management — were all recognized by the same international jury.

About the Red Dot Design Award

The Red Dot Design Award is an international design prize organized by Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Germany, held annually since 1955[1]. Counted among the world's three major design awards, it is split into three categories — Product Design, Brands & Communication Design, and Design Concept — with judging carried out by an international panel of design experts[1].

Judging criteria go beyond visual aesthetics to include innovation, functionality, ergonomics, ecological impact, and durability, evaluating products as they are actually used[1]. CIO's awards this year were given in the Product Design category[1].

SMARTCOBY SLIMⅡ Wireless2.0 SS5K: a thin model with a semi-solid-state cell

The first awarded product is the SMARTCOBY SLIMⅡ Wireless2.0 SS5K, a 5,000 mAh wireless-charging-capable mobile battery built on a semi-solid-state cell[1]. It is designed to reduce the risk of fire compared with conventional lithium-ion polymer batteries, and uses a semi-solid-state cell from a Tier-1 battery maker with a track record in the smartphone industry[1].

Despite being just 8.7 mm thick, it supports up to 15 W of wireless output under the Qi2 standard[1]. The housing is made of aluminum alloy, and CIO combines its proprietary heat-suppression firmware "NovaSafety S2" with an internal-structure design standard called "NovaCore C2" to raise the overall safety bar[1]. The product retails at 6,980 yen (tax included) and is also sold on Amazon.co.jp[1].

SMARTCOBY ULTRA SLIM 3K: an ultra-thin 4.98 mm model

The second product is the SMARTCOBY ULTRA SLIM 3K, defined by an ultra-thin 4.98 mm body weighing about 82 g[1]. Even when attached to an iPhone, it barely sticks out — the design aims at an "attached and forgotten" feel, supporting MagSafe-compatible Qi wireless charging at up to 7.5 W with no need for a cable[1].

Capacity is a modest 3,000 mAh, but the product is positioned as a "just enough" battery for those moments when a phone has only slightly run low, prioritizing thinness and portability above all[1]. It also supports Apple's Find My network, adding lost-and-found functionality directly into the battery[1]. The retail price is 8,980 yen (tax included)[1].

CIO Mate TAP 002: a power strip with a built-in cord reel

The third product is the CIO Mate TAP 002, a power strip that combines three AC outlets with two USB-C ports and one USB-A port[1]. Its USB ports support fast charging at up to 20 W, and the body contains a retractable USB-C cable on a cord reel — the kind that "pops out and tucks away" with a click[1].

A power strip, a USB charger and on-board cable storage are merged into a single device, with a total output of 1,400 W[1]. The design directly addresses cable clutter on desks and in living rooms, which appears to be a major reason it was recognized in the Product Design category. The retail price is 3,980 yen (tax included)[1].

Where this fits for CIO

CIO is a company founded in 2017 and based in Moriguchi, Osaka, that designs and manufactures its own range of smartphone-related products, with a particular focus on chargers and mobile batteries[1]. With this Red Dot wave, three products taking distinctly different angles — a safety-oriented thin battery built on a semi-solid-state cell, an ultra-thin MagSafe battery pushed to its physical limits, and a power strip that doubles as cable storage — were all picked up in the Product Design category at the same time. The breadth of the recognition suggests that the company's product development is gaining outside validation across several different axes, from material engineering and form-factor work to everyday cable handling.

Summary

CIO's "SMARTCOBY SLIMⅡ Wireless2.0 SS5K," "SMARTCOBY ULTRA SLIM 3K," and "CIO Mate TAP 002" have all been honored in the Product Design category of the Red Dot Design Award 2026. A semi-solid-state safety push, a 4.98 mm ultra-thin body, and a power strip with built-in cable storage — three different product directions were recognized simultaneously, all of them already shipping as mass-produced models. Given how much use case and price point differ between them, the award news is a useful reference point when picking the model that best matches your own everyday needs.

出典:https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000650.000043212.html